Western Health treated hundreds of volunteers to a celebratory lunch last week to thank them for the invaluable service they have provided Sunshine and Footscray hospitals.
About 400 people attended the lunch last Tuesday at Club Italia in St Albans.
Kealba husband and wife team Deb and Hilmi Hilmi were among the guests at the event held as part of National Volunteer Week, an annual celebration to acknowledge Australia’s volunteers.
They began volunteering four years ago when Mr Hilmi’s mother was admitted to Footscray hospital.
“My mother-in-law wasn’t able to open her lunches or cutlery, so we started coming in to do that for her, and ended up helping the rest of the ward,” Mrs Hilma said.
These days the pair volunteer twice a week at Sunshine Hospital, talking with patients, handing out books and magazines and making tea and coffee.
“I absolutely love it,” Mrs Hilmi said. “I think I get more out of it than the patients do.”
Western Health volunteers manager Jo Spence said the hospitals’ volunteer team numbered about 600.
She said all the volunteers she works with were generous and resourceful.
“Whenever we go out to our volunteers who come from the community and ask for their help, they come back at us with such enthusiasm and generosity,” she said.
To volunteer with Western Health, call 8395 9092 or email volunteer@wh.org.au
